May 7, 2017

Project initiation 1997 M3/4/5

For now all you get is pictures and my plan.

Compete w/those $60-80,000 sport sedans with about $20,000? I think it's possible. But we will have to apply your car passion to more than just your checking account. Though the checking account will be involved. hehe.... Make those checks payable to Dinan please.

Starting point, is the E36 M3 Sedan which I haven't taken delivery yet, but below are some photos as a primer to this blog's new mission.

Why an M3 from the 90's ? Because they are currently way undervalued. They are advanced, but not complex. Also, they were regarded as one of the best handling cars in the world at any price in the 90s. Because they are light, which is always cooler than powerful, if you can't have both. ( more in both later )

I don't vape and don't want to be infotained. That extra weight in fancy new sport sedans is safety, infotainment and emissions stuff. Who needs safety? Trump has closed the EPA, and If I wanted to park while vaping on twitter, then a $60,000 sedan would be perfect. I like the majority of the weight of my automobile to actually be metal.

Post Purchase inspection. Typically a smart shopper would do a Pre Purchase inspection. But I am not a smart person, I'm a luckly one. I hope . So we'll call it a Post Purchase inspection. I'm a risk taker.

This inspection will occur at Meister Werks in Renton WA and that will clear the car for the drive from Seattle to Boulder when I retrieve it. While most of the work I'll do at home, whatever important things found may need to be addressed there first. I'll scan and post the results of the inspection here.

I judge a lot from my impression of the seller. That impression was good, and given the color combo was important to me, I needed to move quickly. A car fax report indicated a non-structural accident, so I am interested to see in person the quality of the repairs. I was however put at ease by the seller, he mentioned all the right repair and maintenance facilities in our conversation. An 100% virgin paint condition is a sticking point for some, as is a perfect car fax, not for me. I see opportunity.

Photo from Autotrader listing.

Upon arrival in Boulder, I'll take the car straight to my personal BMW gurus that helped in the search. That would be www.Glenshelly.com, a broker/dealer for BMW and other nice machines. Though not a repair shop, I'm sure they'll want to rejoice with me and take a look because they are true enthusiasts and not merely sellers of fine autos. Naturally, I'll share what we find at that time too.